Trap.



F'. H. HAMBLIN.

TRAP. I

935,974. :APPLICATION Hm m 14' ma' Patented oct. 5, 1909.

.Z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

FRANK H. HAMBLIN, 0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

TRAP.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1909.

Application filed November 14, 1908. Serial No. 462,706.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. HAMBLIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at lVorcester, in the county of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Trap, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a trap or cage capable of being made in manysizes and forms, and for numerous purposes, but particularly applicablefor use as a mouse trap.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a substantiallyintegral sheet metal construction for the main portions of the trap sothat the wooden constructions now in use can be done away with and atthe same time the cost of manufacture will be lessened and the neatnessand value 'of the article increased, and to provide an i1nproved meansfor holding the sides of the cage firmly in position on the bottomthere` of, said means being integral with the bottom; also to provide animproved means for supporting a whirl, whereby the same will beaccurately centered and easily rotated on a fixed axis; to provide animproved manner of hinging the door of the cage; to provide an improvedmeans for holding the bait hook and connected parts so that they willnot be likely to become disengaged from the cage in use.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1is a side view of a mouse trap constructed in accorda-nce with thisinvention; Fig. 2 is a plan of the same partly broken away; Fig. 3 is anend View; Fig. t is a perspective view of the bait hook and connections;Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 on enlarged scaleshowing how the sides are held to the bottom; Fig. 6 is a plan of a fiatblank for producing the bottom and platform and certain other featuresof the device; Fig. 7 is a side view of the same partly in section afterthe parts are struck up so as to bend them in a general way into theircompleted form before the other parts are connected therewith; and Fig.8 is an end view of the same.

VFor the purpose of clearly showing how Y the device is made, the blankfor the bottom and some other parts shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 will firstbe described. This blank 10 is preferably formed of thin sheet metal, asfor example tin. It is originally died or cut out in fiat form, asindicated in Fig. 6, and the main body 11 constituting the floor of thetrap or cage is extended out to one end to form a horizontal platform12. At the sides of these two parts two projecting flanges 13 areprovided. On one side is a flange 14C of substantially half the width ofeach flange 13. On the other end is a flange 15 of the same width as theflange 13 having a central end projection 16. The part which has beencalled the platform is cut on a line 17 along three sides of theplatform to form a member 18 connected with the platform along one sideonly and within it is out outl an opening 19. This completes theconstruction of the flat blank. Now in order to produce the floor,platform, andv other connected parts of the cage, this blank issubjected to one or more bending operations. In the first place each ofthe flanges 13, 14 and 15 is bent downwardly from the floor or platformon the margins thereof represented by the dotted lines 20 in Fig. 6.Preferably by the same operation the flanges 13 and 15 are bent upwardlyagain on the dotted lines 21 so as to bring their outer edges nearly orquite into vertical position. By this construction it will be seen thata single downwardly extending flange 14 is provided at one end of thefloor supporting it in a slightly elevated position, while doubledownwardly and upwardly eX tending flanges 13 and 15 are provided at thesides and at the other end. Moreover' the projection 16 is now broughtinto vertical position. Either at the same or another operation the part1S which is cut out along the line 17 is bent upwardly on a line :23 soas to form another vertical wall at the end of the vfloor 10. Thisleaves an open space in the platform 12. At the same time that some ofthe above operations are performed, the projection 16 and wall 1S areprovided with perforations 24C and 25 respectively. The metal around theperforation 24e preferably is bent inwardly to form an inwardprojection26. This constitutes the completion of this part of the deviceso far as it can be done before the parts are tion on this rod.

assembled. In order to employ this integral structure and assemble itwith other elements to form the completed trap or cage, a piece ofmetal, preferably woven wire fabric 30 having its edges bound by a pairof sheet metal bindings 31 is employed for the top and sides. This isbent preferably by dies into proper form, and then the bottom edges 32of its sides are put down into the space between the downwardly andupwardly extending flanges 13. These flanges are then provided withbeads or grooves 33 and 34 respectively, and the woven wire fabric'iscorrespondingly grooved by the same operation preferably by' pressure indiesA or rollers. This not only bends the upwardly extending flange 13`into substantial contact with the inner one, but it secures the edges ofthe foraminous metal fabric 30 securely in position withoutnecessitating the use of solder or otherfastening means. It will beunderstood, of course, that the ends of the bindings 3l are secured inthe same way and at the same time without necessitating any additionaloperation. Preferably also the bead. and groove are extended cleararound the flanges 13 and l5 so as to strengthen the same andy improvethe appearance of the device; It will be seen that in this way the sidesand top of the cage are held firmly in position, and not only that, butthe sharp edges of the tin are as a general thing brought in out of theway where they cannot project.

The wall 1S is fixed to the fabric 30by passing ai rodl 35 through thebinding 3l ofthe fabric, and securing. it thereto, and passing said rodthrough the opening 25, and also through the opening 24 in theproject-ionV 1G, and fastening the end from the loutside thereof. At thesame time this is done, a rotary whirl 36is-mounted in posiwithaprojection 37 opposite the projection 2G so that only small bearingsurfaces will come together, whereby the friction of the whirl will begreatly reduced. The whirl as usual is provided with openings 33kregistering with the opening 19 as the whirl rotates.. O n the oppositeend of the cage a door 39 is pivoted. This door preferably is formed ofsheet metal which may be` corrugated, and in order to avoid thegenerally unsatisfactory hinge construction which has usually beenemployed, it is hinged and operated by a single integral piece of wire40 connectedup in the following way. The two ends of this wire areformed into rings 4l constituting hinges and passing through the-binding31` and the adjacent upper edge of the door. They are then broughtthrough to the outside of the door and along the outer surface of thesame; then passed through holes 42 therein, and brought back upwardlyalong the inner surface of the This whirl is provided door and outthrough the holes 43 between the hinges on that edge of the door. Allthis being formed from an integral wire 4() it will be understood thatthe projecting lever 44 thereof constitutes means for opening 70 thedoor against the action of the springs 45, and also means for settingthe trap in combination with the bait hook 46. This bait hook as usualis adapted to be set by means of a movable rod 47 for holding the end ofthe lever44.

In order to avoid the danger of the loosening of the bait hook androdthey are mounted ou a sheet metal plate 4S which is secured to theforaminous top by means of integral projections 49 which are bent underaround the wire of the fabric. The sheet metal piece is shown asprovided with four parallel slits, two near each end cutting out betweenthem a pair of transverse bands 50 which are bent upwardly so astepermit the bait hook 46 and end of the rod 47 to be pivotally mountedunder them. With this construction these parts are not likely to get outof position, or work loose in use, and consequently the life of the trapis Vgreatly prolonged. It will be seen therefore that most of the partsof the trap can be formed of a single piece of sheet metal, althoughthat is not absolutely necessary, as the various parts can be formedseparately and soldered or otherwise secured together as desired. Alsothe door and bait -hook connections are* greatly strengthened andimproved, and the woven wire sides are securely fixed in positionwithout the necessity of using solder or other fastening means.

'Ihe invention is capable of other uses than the one indicated above,and the cage and whirl support canhe manufactured separately if desired,and each one applied to other forms of traps and the like.

Vhile I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment o-f theinvention, I do not wish to be limited to all the details thereof or tothe combination of each one with the others, as many modifications maybe made by any person skilled in the art without departing from thescope of the invention asv expressed in the claims.

l/Vhat I do claim is l. In a trap, the combination of a cage having atop, a plate secured thereto and formed of a single piece of sheetmetal, said plate having four parallel slits therein, two 120 locatednear each end, the metal between each pair of slits being raised, abait-hook pivotally mounted on the plate under one of said raisedportions, and a bar for setting and holding the bait-hook pivotallymount- 125 ed under the other.

2. In a trap, the combination of a cage having a top, a plate securedthereto and having. four parallel slits therein, two located near eachend, the metal between each 130 pair of slits being raised, a bait-hookpivotally mounted on the plate under one of said raised portions, a barfor setting and holding the bait-hook pivot-ally mounted on the other,and means controlled by the bait hook and bar for closing the trap.

f5. 1n a trap, the combination of a cage, a bait-hook, a bar for settingand holding the bait-hook, and means controlled by the baithook and barfor closing the trap, said means comprising a door, wire hinges forconnect-ing said door with the cage, each of said hinges extending fromthe edge of the door inwardly toward the other edge and passing throughthe door, and the wire thereof, being continued out beyond the door onthe side thereof on which the hinges are located and in position to beengaged and held by said bait-hook and rod.

l. The combination with a trap having an opening, of a door therefor, aprojection extending from said door by which the door may be operated,and hinges for the door integral with said projection.

5. The combination with a trap having an opening, of a door therefor, apair of wire hinges connecting one edge of the door with thecorresponding side of the opening, the wire of said hinges extending`through the door and extending along the door to a point near the otheredge, then extending through the door again and back along the oppositeside between the hinges to points adjacent to the hinges and finallyextending through the door again and forming a lever for operating thedoor.

6. The combination with a trap having an opening, of a door therefor, awire hinge for connecting one edge of the door with one side of theopening, the wire of said hinge extending through the door near thatedge, then along the door and transversely across it to a point near theother edge, then extending back through the door and along the same to apoint near the first named edge, and finally extending out through thedoor and projecting therefrom so as to constitute a means formanipulating the door on its hinge.

7. As an article of manufacture, a trap or cage comprising a bottom,downwardly projecting flanges, additional flanges projecting upwardlyfrom the bottom of said flanges, said bottom having an integral memberprojecting upwardly from the end thereof and constituting the end of thetrap or cage, sides and a top consisting of a piece of woven wire fabrichaving a sheet metal edge binding held between said downwardly andupwardly projecting flanges, means for connecting said end piece withthe edge binding, and means cooperating with said connecting means forsupporting a whirl.

8. As an article of manufacture, a trap or cage having a sheet metalbottom, a cage on said bottom, said bottom having a platform extendingtherefrom and integral therewith and provided with an opening therein,the sheet metal taken from said opening being bent upwardly from theedge of the bottom and constituting the end of said cage, an integralupwardly projecting member on the end of the platform, and meanssupported by the cage and by the said member for carrying a whirl.

9. In an article of the class described, the combination of a sheetmetal platform having ends, and provided with an opening, the metaltaken from said opening being bent upwardly near one end of theplatform, the metal at the opposite end of the platform being bent backin an upward direction so as to provide an upward projection, a shaftfixed to said projection and to the upwardly extending portion of theplatform, and a whirl carried by said shaft.

10. As an article of manufacture, a trap or cage comprising a bot-tom,downwardly projecting flanges, additional flanges projecting upwardlyfrom lthe bott-om of said flanges, said bottom having an integral memberproj ecting upwardly from the end thereof and constituting the end ofthe trap or cage, sides and a top consisting of a piece of woven wirefabric having a sheet metal edge binding held between said downwardlyand upwardly projecting flanges, and means for connecting said end piecewith the edge binding at the top thereof.

11. A blank for a trap or cage base comprising a single integral pieceof sheet metal having a main rectangular body provided with two sideflanges and an end flange, the end flange heilig substantially half thewidth of the side flanges, whereby the flanges can be turned down atright angles to the body, and the side flanges can be doubled back toform three supports of equal height.

12. A blank for a trap or cage base comprising a single integral pieceof sheet metal having a main rectangular body provided with two sideflanges and an end flange, the end flange being substantially half thewidth of the side Hanges, whereby the flanges can be turned down atright angles to the body, and the side anges can be doubled back to formthree supports of equal height, and having a member opposite said endflange adapted to be bent upwardly to form the end of the cage.

13. A blank for a trap or cage base comprising a single integral pieceof sheet metal having a main rectangular body provided with two sideflanges and a front end flange and having' a member opposite the frontend flange connected with the body along a line parallel with the endand severed from the body through the rest of its outline whereby it canbe turned upwardly from the body at rightangles thereto, said bodyhaving a flange at the rem: end behind said member In testimony whereofI have hereunto set adapted to be benl down to 'form :r rear end myhand, in the presence ol two subscribing 10 support and then lo bedoubled. over to 0X- Witnesses.

end upwardly along the end thereof, and FRANK H. HAMBIN lavlng aprojeetlon extendmg beyond the upper end of said flange adapted to beleft lVtnesses:

in Vertical position When the flange is dou- ALBERT E. FAY,

bled over. i C. FoRREstr VVESSON.

